The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin states that he and co-showrunner Neil Druckmann do not have any intentions of following in the footsteps of Game of Thrones by taking the story in directions that diverge from the source material.
“I won’t go beyond the game. I’ll just be straightforward about that. So if people are thinking, ‘Oh, these guys are planning some kind of cash grab,'” Mazin mentioned to The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m essentially risking a decade of my rapidly diminishing life to share this narrative. Crafting this show is incredibly challenging. It must have a conclusion. Therefore, I won’t go beyond.”
The Last of Us is based on the video game series of the same name, with season 2 (and potential seasons 3 and 4) adapting the second game. Both titles present two tightly woven and interconnected narratives—with no existing prequels or spin-off games. It appears there won’t be a Last of Us Part 3 game released anytime soon, either—and Mazin and Druckmann don’t have any plans to take that possible storyline and adapt it for television.
“Who knows, there might be a Dunk and Egg The Last of Us show that someone decides to create. But for me, the main question is: Will it be just one more season, or will it need two additional seasons? If this can all unfold in one more season, fantastic. If we find that it makes more sense to split it into two, then we will do that.”
The Last of Us season 2 is scheduled to premiere on HBO and Max on April 13. In the UK, it will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW. For additional information, check out our list of the top Max shows and the best Max films to stream right now.